Out of Context

Today many take another person's words out of context. This is often happens to
politicians during election time. It occurs when one of them takes the others words but
only in partial form in an effort to smear the other's name or integrity, while gaining
public support. One day a man walked into our church saying that our doctrines were
entirely wrong. The reason was (according to him) because we were teaching as well as
studying far too much of the time. He said directly, "Much learning, as well as studying,
has made the entire congregation insane and error filled." He took the words of a
governor named Festus, who wished to please the Pharisees and thus accused Paul of, out
of context.
Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art
beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
The question remains though, is he right? Of course not! If that were so then many
doctors, lawyers, and students through out time would of been driven madly insane
because of studying. This would be a well documented problem. But just what do the
scriptures say about the entire subject? Let's find out now.
King Solomon, who set himself to study as well as explore all wisdom under the sun
along with writing three thousand proverbs and one thousand and five songs, said these
things. "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no
end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) So studying can
become tedious but it does not by any means bring about insanity. The Psalmist wrote, "I
will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways." We can infer by this that a
person must be mindful of the ways of God. And one would have to study those ways in
order to be mindful of them. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the
LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. (Ezra 7:10) And on the
second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests,
and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. (Nehemiah
8:13) Both Ezra and Nehemiah along with many people from Israel studied the word of
God, all without any negative effects.
Even Jesus himself command all to search of the scriptures. "Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." In fact, Paul
command us by Christ to make a thorough study of the scriptures and understand them
well. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) The Christian apologetics
or defense of the faith is based upon precise scriptural study and learning.
There can no doubt that this man and there are others out there, come out without a
complete understanding or a partial truth when it comes to many things. Some people call
these arguments "straw men" ones. It's kind of like a martial artist or boxer who has
fought weak opponents or none at all, but looks good on paper or otherwise. But when
the rubber hits the road they fall flat and cannot produce the expected results. Do you
want to be informed? It is important to be so as some say rightly that knowledge is
power. God said that His people were destroyed from lack of knowledge ("My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge"...Hosea 4:6) Peter wrote these words for our
edification. "As also in all his epistles [Paul's], speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16) Let's not
be like those who are willingly ignorant of the Lord but noble instead like the Bereans
who studied the word of God with intensity. "These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Remember, what you do not know about the enemy or the word of God can harm or even
possibly kill you. If you go about proclaiming yourself a Christian or casting out demons
and you are not one by biblical standards, this can have very hurtful results. I leave you
two examples of this fact. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew
7:21-23) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which
did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are
ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and
prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts
19:14-17) Do not be found wanting in the day of judgement for your soul's sake. Make
sure that you heed every word of God, as much as possible, in all things. Jesus speaking,
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) The word of God will bring
about salvation if we apply it as it reads, without any personal bias or interpretation.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2
Peter 1:20)